It may sound bold to predict that Ireland is guaranteed a gold medal at the opening session of the European Athletics Championships in Amsterdam, but then these are exceptional times for the sport.
Olive Loughnane has actually been guaranteed that gold medal for a while, and even though she should have won it seven years ago, in the 20km walk at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin, it’s certainly better late than never.
So now, at the behest of Svein Arne Hansen, the European Athletics president, she is one of two athletes singled out for a special medal presentation inside the Amsterdam Arena, having been retrospectively upgraded to gold after the Russian winner in 2009, Olga Kaniskina, was banned for doping last year and had her major titles stripped after a decision by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
Special moment
Fellow Russian Sergey Kirdyapkin, who won the 50km walk in Berlin, has also been stripped of his titles, which means the 2009 gold will be presented to Norway’s Trond Nymark. Rob Heffernan is also due to be upgraded to Olympic bronze from London 2012 after Kirdyapkin’s doping ban, although he has decided to hold off on that presentation until after Rio.
For Loughnane it promises to be a special moment, with IAAF president Seb Coe presenting the medal, which will be followed by the playing of the national anthem and the raising of the Irish flag, just like it should have been in 2009.
“It’s a very important signal,” says Hansen. “I have no sympathy for the athletes who have been cheating.” All athletes will also wear bibs saying, “I Run Clean”. “If they aren’t doing that, it will be very shameful if they are caught afterwards,” Hansen said.
Medal hopes
Ireland’s medal hopes on the opening day will rest with Fionnuala McCormack in the women’s 10,000m, with Tara Jameson, also from Wicklow, lining up too.
Brian Gregan, Craig Lynch and David Gillick are looking to advance from the 400m heats. Gillick came out of retirement this season and finished third at the National Championships in Santry. Gregan, a former European under-23 silver medallist in 2011, made the semi-finals in 2014.
Thomas Barr and training partner Paul Byrne are also out in the heats of the 400m hurdles, with Barr looking to close back in on his personal best of 48.65 seconds, having missed the early part of the season with injury.
Tomas Cotter from Dunleer makes his senior championship debut in the 3,000m steeplechase. Claire Mooney and Sinead Denny go in the 400m, with Síofra Cléirigh Buttner also looking capable of making it out of the heats of the 800m.
